THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY, A Story by Somerset Maugham
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ค. 2024
- "The Door of Opportunity" by W. Somerset Maugham follows the story of a colonial official named Alban Torel who is stationed in Southeast Asia. Torel is ambitious and driven, with a promising career ahead of him. However, his aspirations are thwarted when he falls in love with the wife of his superior, leading to a scandal. Torel is forced.......
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Alban made what he thought was an educated decision, one that protected his small number of men from what he determined would be a disastrous assault, their crew outnumbered. The "cowardice" his disgusted wife said she saw in his eyes is subjective, and we cannot know if it is true. Of course, the British way would be to take as many men and weapons available and go off to do battle - as indeed, the Dutchman did. That Alban deviated from the expected, was intolerable to everyone else. They'd have preferred that he and his men were cut down, shot and killed in the attempt to regain control of the island. Of course, they would. Alban was the only person who thought differently.
Have you ever lived with a coward and endured the results of their behavior?
This story was published in 1933 - at the apex of the British Empire. The empire lasted from the mid-19th century to about the mid-20th century - a time that is hard for us to imagine.
"Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun." "Gunga Din", "Charge of the Light Brigade". How do you think the sparse population of a tiny island, the British, ruled over a population of millions in the largest empire the world has ever known? It was by this collective insanity. For God and the Queen! They all bought in and it was their strength. Here they were, all these British soldiers, diplomats, and bureaucrats, (and their wives), out on a limb a long way from home, massively outnumbered by the peoples of the lands they dominated. There were not enough British to EVER have superiority in numbers! Their collective insanity was all they had to maintain control.
Maugham goes on to show us what happens when collective delusions are popped. Ann had to believe in Alban's superiority so Alban could believe in it, too. Once Ann had destroyed their collective delusion by seeing Alban was not superior, both Ann and Alban were devastated. That's what happens when a collective delusion is popped. Alban's individualistic preference for engaging in a collective delusion with his wife rather than engaging in the collective delusion of his fellow Englishmen was a real chink in the British armor that couldn't be tolerated .... no, really.
This is a short story. It was crafted by an artist, a craftsman, Somerset Maugham. It is not a reddit story. It is not chit-chat amongst a group of friends. It is a story Maugham has carefully crafted to enlighten us. If Maugham says Ann saw fear in Alban's eyes, Ann DID see fear in Alban's eyes. Why? Because Maugham said she did. THIS is the story he has crafted. THIS is his story. If you want a different story, write your own.
Wow! Brutal….
Excellent once more. Maugham is brilliant… yes this was one of his top pieces! ❤
Thank you for this and also for P&O. Maugham's observations of human nature... Chilling at times. Brilliant.
👍 Best Maugham story Ive heard / read.
Superbly read. Thank you. What an amazing story of a partnership of a principled man and his loyal wife who maintained their dignity until it was time when she didn't need to fly his principled flag
The reading is AI.
Loyalty means to stand by whatever happened. Is easy to stay by with a perfect person Is not easy to accept difficult situations. But exactly this is the loyalty. To be at side at good or WORSE. I would never be a traitor in a similar situation.
Except you aren't, right?
Visceral, physical contempt and loathing for your mate is impossible to "get over".
It would only poison everything.
It's over.
That's it.
This is close to the best story I've ever read, or heard, and I've read many. This man Maughan is a genius. Was a genius. Surfer, i can't thank you enough.
Like Billy Joel says: "It was then I saw the stranger hit me right between the eyes".
What a wonderful, thought provoking story.
Wow the ending
That was a good one
Thank you very much for these brilliant stories. Helps winter nights both cosy and entertaining. ,
Better ending to not rely on wife to support his conviction.
The story is not about "conviction". It's about how being sophisticated, sensitive, intelligent is not a substitute for having guts and bollocks.
Not to mention Alban's absolutely overweening sense of superiority over others BECAUSE of his greater intelligence and sensitivity and his absolute and total obliviousness of most others.
😊😅@@rheinhartsilvento2576
Little “sordid houses” love SM. I’m honestly conflicted, those “ awful people”.. Why have I listened to at least one story every day for several months? The “ thought of a scene”. . I’m so frequently imagining a deliberate exaggeration of perfection. Beyond criticism. Absolutely no imperfection. Not a speck of a blemish…superiority. Of the upperclass. … fodder for eugenics. 😊😊😊 who, I wonder is his audience? What was the reaction to this story? “Nature I loved, and next to that, art”….”pawns in a game”….”what was one to do with them”? Bordered the garden with “ pseudo-classical statues “….infectced with communist ideals”….” The iron hand in the velvet glove”. … “her ugly little monkey face was a mask of terror” what a track through the jungle…..exquisite…Im. Twisted with honest pleasure..blow for blow, two boxers trading blows, punches to the body and face, blood on tthe nsurface, the breaking of a bone in the rib cage.
I’m wondering if the narrator is Ai? Be reads all these stories like he’s reading a check list. And they’re wonderful stories. Wish I was reading them?😁
Yes, it's AI.😅
@@rheinhartsilvento2576 🫣🙄
@@rheinhartsilvento2576how can you tell?
You may volunteer as a reader :)
@@SunnySmile-fr5yg tell me where! I’d do a very good job!
I’m not sure what I think of the story! I really don’t like either of the main characters, but it is well written, as always
@NowistheEvollvolution 'Andrew', 'THANK YOU' for 'Bloviating' on the 'History' of the 'One Pound Note". You 'Remind' me a bit of 'Alban'. You 'MUST' be
a 'Joy' to sit 'Next To'
at 'DINNER parties'.
Hopefully he doesn't attend dinner parties. I know I certainly don't.
Genius! Thank you
Thank you 🙏
The British £1 Note - The True Story (Condensed).
Now. The reason that the 'British £1 Note' originally gained its name. Was due to the fact that the 'Paper Note' represented ownership of 'Twelve Troy Ounces (1 Troy 'Pound') Of Physical Sterling Silver Coins'.
With 'Sterling' of course referring to the level of the 'Purity Of The Silver Coins'. With that purity being 92.5% Silver and 7.5% Copper.
Hence the name 'A One Pound Note'.
IMPORTANT - The Note Was 'NOT' And Never Has Been 'The Real Money'.
The 'Real Money' (The 'Sterling Silver Coins') were stored in a bank vault. And the 'Paper Notes' (representing ownership of 'The Real Money/The 'Sterling Silver Coins') circulated in the wider economy.
Mainly to save us from having to carry a large amount of 'Weight Of Money' (of 'Sterling Silver Coins') around with us.
And yes. We were then able to take a 'One Pound Note' into a bank. And they were obligated to give us the '1 Troy Pound Of Sterling Silver Coins' (The Real Money) That 'The Paper Note' Actually Represented Ownership Of.
A situation that continued until the British people eventually 'Fell Into The Trap' of mistakenly thinking/believing that 'The Paper Notes Are The Money'.
Which of course 'They Are Not'.
At which point our political leaders and their banking overlords 'Completely Removed The Physical Sterling Silver Coins That Were 'Backing' The Paper Notes From The Economy'. So allowing them to 'Print An Astronomical Amount Of Paper Notes In A Large Variety Of Denominations'.
A move which 1. Allowed our government 'To Begin To Live Wildly Beyond Its Means'. And 2. Allowed the bankers to create 'An Unlimited Amount Of Debt'.
Debt that they 'Legally Create Out Of 'NOTHING' And Then Charge 'INTEREST' On'.
So 'SYSTEMATICALLY' Robbing The People Of Their Hard Earned Wealth Through The Process That Is Known As 'INFLATION' ('Mass Currency Creation').
'IMPOVERISHING' And 'ENSLAVING' them.
I mean. Britain is now 'Totally Awash With Debt'. Both on a 'Personal And A National Level'. And yet, no one ever asks the logical question.
With that being - "How Was This Actually Able To Happen"?
Well, now 'You' know.
And now you also understand the important difference between 'Mere Currency' (The 'Paper Notes'). And the 'Actual Money' (The 'Sterling Silver Coins').
A harsh lesson that the vast majority are just about to have to 'Re-learn'. As the 'True Value Of An 'Unbacked' British £1 Note Is Once More Realized'.
With that 'True Value Of Course Being As It Is 'ZERO'.
'ABSOLUTELY NOTHING'.
'ZILCH'
'Not A Damn Thing''.
Best wishes from Old Blighty 🙏
Andrew.
What’s a half crown?
Thank you for this' footnote '. So much to learn about the history of "items" accepted as currency.
Blame yourself for voting for evil Democrats and Bidenomics
@@user-pm9rx5sy2k As 'MONEY' my friend. 'FRAUDULENT CURRENCIES' Posing 'AS MONEY'. Best wishes 🙏
@@user-pm9rx5sy2k 'As Money' my friend. 'Fraudulent, Unbacked Paper Currencies' posing 'As Money'.
If you will remember, Alban's wife, Ann(e?) was horrified by Alban's refusing to go save Prym (n?)'s wife and two children who the couple had known and the wife had respected, liked and enjoyed. But the look of fear in Alban's eyes (Why would we contest whether that was true? You can't just change the author's short story willy-nilly.) revealed to Ann that Alban was reneging on his manly duty to defend and protect women and children. for no other reason than fear., That was not honorable,.and by extension, not superior.
Alban was dismissive and patronizing toward Ann (as he was toward everyone .) It never occured to him Ann could have a thought or conclusion of her own. That seemed to be their compact. When Ann did make her own judgement, the bubble of Alban's own perfection and superiority was burst. The couple had been living in a collective delusion.
Excellent
- Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned -...
While it was not quite true to the proverb, it was still good enough.
So, the ending was actually no surprise to me.
I'm with Alban.
me too. Only smart guy there
I love the voice..very relaxing.
🙏🙏👏👏👏💕
Is this how Mrs Sunak felt vacating No 10 ?
What a cruel and horrible wife!
Why ai so sarcastic?
I didn’t like the ending at all. It was horrible.
His wife throws him under the bus because he made the right decision not to endanger 8 men, as he was grossly understaffed. She would fit in so well with today’s Democrats.
I'm sorry democracy is so hard for you.
@@lyndaproper1313 …and to the Republic for which it stands….ever heard of it? We are a Republic. “Democracy “ is a euphemism for Communism -Socialism and lack of freedom
@@DubblyaDottie Sorry - I didn't realize you were using the dictionary you wrote yourself. Maybe next time you could give us a heads-up.
Putting aside the reference to Democrats, while his decision not to act without more help was really quite logical based on the information he had. For his wife, however, it was the realisation that he was acting out of fear rather than strong leadership, that fundamentally changed her feelings for him - feelings she knew she couldn't ignore.